Steven Taylor has revealed Alan Pardew made Newcastle’s new French contingent stand up in front of the team and prove their commitment to the cause before handing them their shirts.

The Magpies signed Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara, Yoan Gouffran and Moussa Sissoko – all from Ligue 1 – during a busy January transfer window, but Taylor insists the new-comers did not just come to St James’ Park to sit on their bumper pay cheques.

‘Before the Aston Villa game we all sat down for a meal and the Gaffer presented each player with their shirt and asked them to explain why they came to Newcastle,’ the defender told Topman magazine.

‘Through a translator they all explained that they just wanted to be accepted by the group, give 100% to the team and promised not to let down the players and staff who were already there.

‘It was refreshing to hear them say that to us because too many times I’ve seen players come in, sign their big money contracts and just down their tools and relax. We’ve now got a group of players willing to work hard.’